Ring Ratings Update: Guevara climbs jr. fly rankings

Chuck Giampa

July 23, 2013

The past week was a busy one in many of the sport’s marquee divisions but the only changes to THE RING’s rankings occurred at the lighter weight classes. Pedro Guevara moved up the junior flyweight ratings with lopsided decision over strawweight contender Mario Rodriguez.

At heavyweight, Dereck Chisora scored a strange knockout against a competitive Malik Scott in London.It was a close fight until Chisora knocked down Scott in the sixth round. Referee Phil Edwards counted over Scott, who was on one knee, until the American bolted up just after the count of nine. Edwards, however, waved off the fight awarding the KO win to Chisora. No change.

At middleweight, Billy Joe Saunders was impressive in a unanimous decision win over Gary O’Sullivan. This is a deep weight class for the Commonwealth with the likes of Matthew Macklin, Martin Murray, Darrin Barker, Andy Lee, etc. It’s too soon for a ranking for Saunders. No change.

At junior welterweight, Hank Lundy rebounded from two losses in his last two fights and scored a UD win over Olusegun Ajose. Lundy gives 100 percent and goes in with a winner’s mentality making him dangerous. No change.

At lightweight, former title challenger John Molina proved that it’s not over ‘til it’s over by stopping unbeaten Mickey Bey in the final round of their 10 rounder. Molina was losing by a wide margin on all three judges’ scorecards going into the final round. But Molina hurt Bey midway through the round and scored a TKO win with just under a minute left in the fight. It was a dramatic victory for Molina, who was coming off a decision loss, but not enough to get him back into the rankings. No change.

At junior featherweight, Randy Caballero scored a one-punch body shot KO in the seventh round against Miguel Robles. Caballero (19-0, 11 knockouts) is closing in on a top-10 rankings. No change.

At bantamweight, Alberto Guevara had to get off of the canvas for a UD win over previously unbeaten Jonathan Vidal. Guevara’s only loss was to Leo Santa Cruz and is still a work in progress. Guevara could soon enter the top 10 in an already strong weight class. Suriyan Sor Rungvisai scored a first round KO against Chandech Sor Ratidech, who was making his pro debut. No ranking yet for Suriyan Sor Rungvisai. No change.

At junior bantamweight, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai won a TKO in the second over Joan Imperil in Thailand. Ivan Morales had a points win over Alejandro Morales. No change.

At flyweight, Nawaphon Por Chokchai won on points over Roque Lauro. No change.

At junior flyweight, Guevara, our No. 9-rated 108 pounder, won a unanimous decision over Mario Rodriguez, our No. 8-rated strawweight. Guevara, who won almost all of the rounds on the scorecards, will move up to No. 7 in the junior flyweight rankings dropping Roichi Taguchi to No. 8 and Felix Alvarado to No. 9. Guevara’s only loss was by a close split decision to No. 6-rated Johnriel Casimero. He had since rebounded with wins over former champion Raul Garcia and now Rodriguez.

At strawweight, Carlos Buitrago outpointed fellow unbeaten Julian Yedras to win an interim title.Buitrago proved his potential and is moved from No. 9 to No. 8. Rodriguez drops out of the ratings after moving up to Jr. Flyweight and losing to Guevara. Merlito Sabillo moves up to No. 9 and Jesus Silvestre re-enters at No. 10.